Organized apparatus for treating cyanid slimes.



L. C. TRENT @L S. W. MUDD. ORGANIZED APPARATUS FOR THEATING CYANID sLr'MEs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, I9l4.

Patented 00in. 29, 19ML l wy W Aww Il) IIL Lf .aan enteren.v

. LAMARTINE C. TRENI .ANDSEELEY W. MUDDyOF LOS NGELES, CALIFORNIA. l

oae-A'NIZED APPARATUS FOR'TBEATING CYANID sLIMEs.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. ea, raie.

Application led August 24, 1914. Serial No. 858,411.5.

To all whom it may concern."

' Be it known that we, LAMARTINE C` TRENT and SEELEY W. MUDD, citizens of the United fromtheir ores with lcyanid solutions. It

' provide for the di has for its object to treat crushed or pulverized material delivered to it as slime or pulp from any appropriate source and to erent stages of extraction and separation of values to finally in clude the delivery of -valuable and recovered solutions for further treatment and the discharge of base tailings pulp, al further ob-4 ject bein to dispense with the necessity of the emp oyment of extensive filtering ap- Vparatus and by so doing eliminating the expense incidental thereto, while at the same time producinga simplenmore efficient and less expensive method of treatment than the ones in common use at the present time.

The invention consists in associated means for subiecting the slimes as received to a settling and thickening action in order to separate excess liquid contained therein, or- .to settling and the replacement of the carrier liquid with such other llquid as theA case may require, removing` the thickened material and subjectin it to agitation and circulation for dissolving values contained therein, subsequently treating the pulp by introducing a barren solution ora different liquid causing agitation in Vsaid material under treatment, the purpose'being to vadd an active solvent for dissolving residual'values and also to displace and replace preg-v nant solution therewith, and following this with a similar treatment of replacement of Solution by means of water for the recovery forV the separation of atailings pulp which is practically freed from soluble values.

The apparatus may be said to comprise four instrumentalities, coperating for thickening ofthe 4slirnes and the removal of a part of the liquid therefrom, for subj e'cting the thickened slimes to agitation and circulation for the dissolving of values contained therein, for separating the valuable solutions from the solids by. replacement with a solvent and nally for separating the liquid from the resulting pulp mixture by replacement with water;v these interrelated instrumentalities coacting in successive steps being conducted as a single operation during the continuous iow of the material to be treated. The instrumentalities may be multiplied for carrying out each step, as described.

To comprehend the, invention, reference should be had to accompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed in vertical section, the organized apparatus for the continuous 'treatment of material for the recovery of values therefrom. l

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tank or vessel for the initial treatment of the pulverized -material which is fed to the vessel as a slime in any suitable manner as by a launder 2, the said initial treatment being for settling and thickening the received slimes and for replacing liquid thereof with a solvent when required, the dimensions of thevessel being dependent on the tonnage capacity desired for the apparatus. The receiving vessel l is provided adjacent its upper edge with an overflow launder 3 for receiving separated clarified liquid, which is carried off thro disposal in any esired manner,said liquid when separated from slimes produced in the pulverization of ores in the presence of a solvent, frequently carrying high .metallicv ,values in solution.

Suspended at anladjustable height within the vessel l is a rotatable device consisting of a tubular shaft 5 which is closed at its lower enchand of hollow arms 6, which are' connected tothe shaft 5 by the hollow head 7, said arms 6 being each provided with, one or more discharge openings 8 and aseries of thesolvent andA its contained values, and

h any .suitable outlet 4, for

of blades 9, a supply pipe 10 communicating with the upper end of a hollow shaft -for introducing a replacing liquid therein under pressure, the object. of the device being to thicken the slimes, to introduce and distribute aliquid for replacing purposes and to Y produce the conditions desired for the replacement of the liquid received in the slimes for treatment, the discharge openings of the arms 6 and the setting of the blades 9 thereof being` arranged in such a manner as to cause the agitation required for the mentioned purposes. The shaft 5 is mounted for rotation in any suitable manner, rotation being imparted to the shaft by the gear wheel l1, and worm and pulley 12.

The material is ,withdrawn from the vessel 1 through the perforated `outlet pipe 13,

which is connected through a pipe 14, with 20 l the lift pump 15,' said pump delivering the withdrawn material through the pipe connection 15 into the agitating vessel 16. Within the vessel 16 adjacent the bottom thereof, is mounted for rotation an agitator comprising a hollow head 17, and hollow arms 18,. each of which arms is provided with discharge nozzles 19, there being introduced into the head 17 a pipe 20, which connects with a rotary pump 2 1. The material within the vessel 16 is kept in constant agitation and circulation by means of the pump 21, material being withdrawn from the said vessel at its upper portion into the pump 21 by means of the connection 22, or from a point intermediate the ends ofthe vessel by means of the connection 23 through the suction pipe 24, the low through the said pipe connections 22 and23 bein controlled by the valves 26 and-27 respect1vely. The manozzles 33. Outside of the vessel 30 is located a suction pump 34, which withdraws material from within the said 'vessel 30 through i the interiorly dlsposed perforated suction pipe 35 and pipe connections 36 and returns the said material into the vessel through the arms 32 of the agitator by meansof the pipe 37, which said pipe delivers the material into tliehead 31 of the agitator. By this withdrawal and return of the material within the vessel 30, the said material is maintained in circulation and agitation while a replacing solvent is being added 34, for replacing pregnant solution and for dissolving residual values contained in the solids of the material under treatment, preferably but not necessarily with an upward flow of the replacing liquid within the vessel 30. The replaced and rising liquids separated within the vessel 30 are received in a discharge launder 39 and flow therefrom through an outlet 40 to a suitable place of deposit for after treatment. Situated near the bottom of the vessel 30 is a perforated suction ring 41, connected with a discharge pipe 42 and thence with the lift pump 34 for withdrawing the treated material from the vessel 30 and delivering it to the replacing vessel 44` through the pipe 44', the quantity of material withdrawn for circulation yand discharge being controlled by the valves a and b in pipes 36 and 42, the pipe 37 also being provided with a valve c. In the vessel 44,- the material withdrawn from the vessel 30 mixes with the replacing liquid andreceives another treatment by replacement in which Water is used as the replacing liquid to recoverv solution containlng dissolved chemical and metallic values from the said material, the quantity of water introduced for replacing purposes being approximately the quantity which is .discharged in the tailings pulp with such additional quantity as may be required in continuous operation to make up lfor losses of watery in discarded solutions, evaporation and in other manner, this being the stage of treatment for introduction of the make-up water.

Agitation is produced in the vessel 44 in the same manner as described for vessel 30, by withdrawing material from near the bottom of the vessel4 through the perforated suction pipe. 45 and the pipe connections 46 into the suction pump 47, the replacing water being introduced through the valve controlled pipe 48, and delivering the discharge of the pump by means of the pipe 49 to an agitator situated within the vessel 44, the material thus delivered by the pump passing through the agitator comprisin the hea-d 50 and the radial arms '51 provi( ed with discharge nozzles 52 'as in the preceding vessel 30. The liquid overflowing from the vessel 44 is discharged into a launder 52', passing therefrom through an outlet 53 to a place of deposit and the same is available for use in any desired manner, and the tailings may be discharged from the vessel as desired.

A decided advantage gained by the use of the described apparatus is that the metal values are removed as soon as possible after they are dissolved, providing a more efiicient and economical recovery than otherwise possible. `We are aware that changes may be made insane@ inthe arrangement of the workingI Aparts herein illustrated .and described, Aand We do from, the same comprising a settling vessel,

agitating` means in the settliii vessel, means rfor introducing replacing Viquid therein,

means for carrying off clarified liquid, an agitating vessel, means for withdrawing the thickened material from the settling vessel and delivering-the same to the agitating ves-A sel, devices for agitating and circulating the material in the agitating vessel, a replacing vessel, means for *delivering material from the agitating vessel to there-placing vessel, agitating means in the replacing vessel, means for introducing a replacing liquid in the replacing vessel, means for. removing clarified liquid from the replacing. Vessel,

a fourth vessel, means for i'cmoving treated sel and delivering the same 4to said fourth vessel, means for introducing water 'into the fourth vessel for replacement purposes, agitating means in the fourth vessel, and means for removing clarified liquid and tailings pulp from the fourth vessel.

2. An organized apparatus for the treatment ofmixtures of solids-and liquids containing metal values to be separated there'- from, the same comprising a settling vessel, an agitating vessel, and a replacing'vessel, means for imparting agitation to the material within the agitating and replacing vessels, means at the upper portion of the first mentioned'vessel, for. carrying off clear liquid, a connection for withdrawing material therefrom and delivering it to the agitating vessel,l a-pum connected with the second vessel for wit drawing material from and returning the same thereto for circulation within the vessel, means for delivering the treated material from the vagit'ating vessel to the third of the series of vessels, a pump for t withdrawing'. and returning material for circulation in the 'replacing vessel, and means 'for introducing a replacing liquid in the replacing vessel.

3; An organized apparatus for the treatment of mixtures of solids and liquids containing values 'to be separated therefrom,

t the same comprising agitatin'gand replacing vessels, rotaryvagitating means in the said vessels, pumps connected with each of the said vessels for withdrawing material therefrom and returning it to the vessel from which it was withdrawn for purposes of circulation, connections for introducing another liquid into the circulating material ldrawing clarified liquids.

within the replacing vessels, lmeans for eifecting the transfer lof the heavy material 1under treatment" from each to the succeed- .j ing vessel, and for final disposal'from the taining metal values .to be separated therefrom, the same comprising a settling vessel,

an agitating vessel and a, replacing vessel, agitating means in each vessel, a pump connected with the rst vessel forwithdrawing material therefrom and delivering the same to the agitating vessel, means for admitting a barren liquid through said pump into the settling vessel, an overflow launder attlie upper portion of the vessel, a pump connected with the second vessel for withdraw- 4. ing therefrom and returning the lmaterial thereto, means for delivering material from said vessel to the thirdpoi the series of vesr sels, a pump connected to said third vessel for withdrawing and returning material thereto, and means for supplying barren liqu-id to the last mentioned vessel through saidpulp from the last mentioned replacing ves- 5. An organized apparatus for the treatment 'oi mixtures of solids and liquids containingvalues to be separated therefrom, the same comprising a series of vessels,

means within each of said vessels for im- .parting agitation to the material under comprising-a settling vessel, means for. agitating the material in the settling vessel, an

agitator vessel, means for withdrawing the thickened material from thc first` vessel and discharging the saine`into the secondvessel, devices in the last named vessel for agitating the material dischar ed therein, a replacing vessel, means for elivering lthe material from the agitating vessel to the replacing vessel, an agitating device in the replacing vessel, aY pump connected with said replacing vessel for withdrawing material therefrom and returning the same thereto for maintaining circulation of. material within the vessel, andmeans for introducin into said replacing vessel a replacing liqui An organized apparatus for the treattaining values to be separated therefrom,

ment of mixtures of solids and liquids conl.the same including a settling vessel, an agitating vessel, a replacing vesselz agitating means in the a 'tating and re lacing vessels, means for'wit drawin thic cned material from vthe settling vesse and delivering the i messe@ same to the top'iof the agitatin ',vesseI, nmes to this s pecicationin the presence of means for conveying the material' rom the two subscribing witnesses. .t

top 'of the agitating vessel and delivering the same to the top of the replacing vessel, means for withdrawing claried liquid from Y the replacing vessel, and means for discharg- Witnesses'. v

ing pulp from saidw'fessel. l F. H. PEYTQN, In testimony whereof we have signed our M. L. BRYANT. 

